Cumulus Finally Buying WKQX, The Loop

The powers-that-be at Cumulus Media evidently decided that respectful four-year LMA courtship had gone on long enough with Alternative WKQX and Classic Rock WLUP (97.9 The Loop)/Chicago — now let’s make it legal!

RAMP has confirmed that an FCC assignment application (Form 314) was filed by the stations’ owners, Merlin Media, a very public step in the process of formally selling the pair to Cumulus Media, which has operated them via Local Marketing Agreement since January 2, 2014, shortly after Merlin flushed the short-lived FM News format on the former WIQI (i101).

Financial terms of the transaction were not readily available. Cumulus Media already owns and operates News-Talk WLS-AM and Classic Hits WLS-FM/Chicago, but you already knew that.